Business
Registered agent duties
Updated April 8, 2026
Every Texas LLC and corporation, and most other registered business entities, must continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office in Texas. The registered agent is the company's official point of contact for lawsuits and certain government notices. It's a simple role, but a missed delivery can have serious consequences.
What a registered agent does
- Accepts service of process. When someone sues the company, the lawsuit papers can be delivered to the registered agent.
- Forwards legal notices promptly. The agent passes lawsuits and official notices to the company right away.
- Is available during business hours. The registered office must be a physical street address in Texas where the agent can be personally served during normal business hours. A mailbox service or telephone answering service alone doesn't qualify.
Who can serve
A registered agent can be an individual who lives in Texas or a business entity authorized to do business in Texas. A company can't serve as its own registered agent, but an owner who is a Texas resident can serve individually.
No one can be named as registered agent without consent. The company must obtain the agent's consent, in writing or electronically, and keep a record of it. Filing the designation with the Texas Secretary of State (SOS) confirms that consent was obtained.
Things to consider before serving as your own agent
- The registered office address becomes part of the public record.
- Someone must be at that address during business hours, which can be hard if you travel or work from different places.
- A process server may deliver a lawsuit at your workplace in front of customers or employees.
- If you move and forget to update the record, you may never receive important papers.
What happens if service is missed
In a Texas lawsuit, a defendant's answer is generally due by 10:00 a.m. on the Monday after 20 days have passed since service. If a company doesn't answer in time, the court can enter a default judgment against it, even if no one at the company saw the papers.
If a company fails to maintain a registered agent or registered office, a plaintiff may be able to serve the SOS instead, and the SOS then forwards the papers to the company's last known address. The SOS can also involuntarily terminate a company that doesn't maintain a registered agent or office.
Changing your registered agent or office
To change your registered agent or registered office, file a statement of change with the SOS and pay a small state filing fee. Update the record whenever your agent or address changes. A registered agent can also resign by filing with the SOS and notifying the company, which then needs to appoint a new agent promptly.
Our registered agent service
- Included for the first year when we form your LLC or corporation, then $175 per year
- Available for $175 per year for existing Texas entities we didn't form
- Our office at 2700 Bee Caves Road, Suite 300, Austin, serves as your registered office, so your own address isn't used for it
- Same-business-day forwarding of any legal papers served on your company, plus a phone call when a lawsuit arrives
- A reminder each spring about your franchise tax report deadline, although filing the report remains your or your CPA's responsibility
Receiving service for your company doesn't mean we represent you in the lawsuit. We don't handle litigation, so if your company is sued, contact litigation counsel right away, because answer deadlines are short.
This is general information, not legal advice.